Vehicle wheel



Feb. s, 193s.

Pl M. MlLLER; Er m. VEHICLE WHEEL Filed Dec. 11, V19:51

2 sheets-sheet' 1 l l l l l l I i l i l Feb. 5, 1935.

P. M. MILLER ET AL VEHICLE WHEEL Filed Dec. 11,' 1951 2 SheeT/s-SheerI 2 Wenlbw:

Patented Feb. 5, 1935 y. if

- UNITEDVSTAT'ES PATENT. rQFFi f I y-VEI'IICLE Wlilltltn Philip lMiller and Rieherdfl'sliviilierg'* f Dtl'oitlwicllvAnp'lierttion December 11, 19311Seria1'Netsoii 5 f y5 Claims. (o1.soi;65)l ff;

yThis invention relatesbroadiy towheeis for j Figure/1f is' e? substantiailylteentraierosseecl motor4 Vehicles andparticularly to 'wheels-of the tionalviewmofa `wheel lembodying'thefeaturejof Cast, metan-,wa Y .r l Y i the inventionj i In the prodirictionfofl wheelsfrom cast metal, FigfZfis aview inv inboaid side `'elevati'on ofthe 5 one of the-problemsv linv'olveclh'is to make the nave and lspider inemb'ersi'nassembled'relation, .5

wheelssufoiehtly lightforpracticalservice while the brake drum,` backing". plate 'and the cover at'thes'a'me time embodying adequate strength to plates for the spokes Vbeingv removed to be er withstand the'farduous duties which they are 'show thefi-nterior constructionef the-wheel;4 called upon -to"'perfor`m, and this is particularly Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one ofthe spokes',

1o, true with respect to wheels for heavy Aduty vetakenvon the plane of section indicated' at3-" 3, 10A hicles. hln making a Wheel of cast metal, an- Fi'gQZ; f5 other v.problem is to provide aV hub construction Fig. li'is'a view 'similar to Fig.- 2goffa'modioa-- for a driven Vwheel which rcan be keyed toa tion in structure; andfFig`.'5 is afsecti'onftakenon driven axle shaft without danger of breakage ad-' f the line 5-5, Fig- 4. 'A 7 i5 jacent the keyedi-portion of the"A hub. AIt has Referring rsttofFigs. '13 to i3, inclusive, Vthe 15 heretofore been proposed to use hard metal liners Wheel as a whole comprises va navemember genof various types, but in cases where'the central rally'idated t; md?- Slljkedspdi member or nave portion of the wheel is of vopen or spidergenerally indicatediat 7'.- V The have member may like constructionfnot only 'mustthehnb'barrel bemade of' relatively .hlid lltr'lfSfl1` 3h`S,Igef'r 2o itself be reinforced, but it becomes highly desir- 'r'caSt-steel'fvhle th"ttepoked'fspider ,metm-y -20 able to reinforce the nave :structurea'sa whole" ,ber s'plefelfbly malde Off TBIQVQIS'SO 'dllfle against torqueand lateral thrust stresses. 'metall Sllh-as '2' Hllafblilni'ebng mlieh kThe primary object of the present invention is IIIC@ desirable `JGQ makethisonter wheelmembe to provide a' cast metalfwheel of'that typehav- OflSuCh Iiafl, sin@ liadlpfs ii'rSfelffvfQ-BaSTWking anave portion of open, spider-like constriicing a'tthefoundryand may be-more readily Yma- 25 tion, preferably for the' gre'atrar'ea offthe'wheel hinedat theassemblyplant than castor forged diameter,"to'permitthe use of a spider member Steela f1' jlf j "f n* j y having a minimum amountoimetaltherein and The"I1 1Ve. member/6 iS 0f: Open Spide1 1k C011- -relativelyshort spokes, whereirithefnave Y mem- SIUC'GQI1-andjXleIldSfO the greatl' are@ 0f lth 3o ber isi-possessed of relativeifyfgreat `strength oawheel-diameter, Slo that@ spidermemberhavihe 30 pable of withstanding torqueand lateral stresses, "lelatVely Short ".SPOkQSand BmbOdYIlg '3e-mmft while the outer spokes-spider. member' of the imumamogunt of metalmay beusedftherebymawheel may be made of-r`1ative1ysoftfinalieabie timely-reducing ,theweightlo thewheelj- *The meter I 1 t. ^1 A` have, member .maree mede, Offerger @eat Another object of the-invention is 'to provide steel; or other relatively hardmcwlf S01 that Alents-ty 35 a-wheel for. motorveh'ioies `of the 'east' metal arb.e keyedzt@ the driven eXle 0f a vehicle without tillery type having atnaveportionof open, spider- QdallgeIZQfj blfeakfge agdjaCQl'll? the keying I O ljton like construction and a. spider m'ember of relaalld Q aflse Wien-ef' labliYSOvbIeakge tively soft or malleable metal wherein the nave 0f the Skeleten'lke pefYestmeemfe UTFQEHQl'Ilg .40 member is capable of withstanding torque and thehllb-t.

lateralthrust stresses,but in the event of breaky The nell/fe' member .Gfeempleee efhllebenel 3 age, may be replacedwitnoutrepiaeing the outer .havirleaY selie .Of ,ribs 9. ,fqrmed integral with 'spoked spider member. l the periphery thel'eelf"iand'-pl'0jeQtillg radially `Another object of the inve tion 'is Ato provide therefrom and me'gg at their red-i341 Outer ends .45 va strongand durable cast metal artillery type With Spidesupprting wall vor flly 10, the i11- 45 Wheel forheavy dut-,y Service having a, have memboard Vside of saidV walli being formed' Witha radiber of open, spider-like construction adapted for ally IlWal'dYffpIOJ'eCIg 'fl'ahge' 11"` f01"va1i10h4 usel withjthe driven or rear axle of a'truck, buss Arlell'f b'ak'drllmlFRirlielingwebs 12 'are or other heavy lduty vehicle and capable of effecpreferably formedbetweenthe "ribs 9 and merge tively withstanding the severe torque and lateral with the -latter andv the hub -`barrel to reinforce 50 thrust stresses to which it is constantly subjected. the nave member `against torque stressesij T The foregoing and other objects and advan- The spidermember*i`s`of`theartillery"typeiad tages will become apparent in view of f thefollowycomprises'an annular bodyvwall 13 having a cen'- ving'description taken in conjunctionwith the tral opening of adiarnete'r isuchwas* willfperrnit drawings, wherein:4 l it to have a pressed nt on the wall or-fellyIU-'Iof 55 the nave member, the outboard side of the wall 13 having formed integrally therewith a radially inwardly projecting stop flange 13a which also serves for attachment of a hub or nave-covering shell, hereinafter referred to. The periphery of the Wall 13 is preferably slightly arched as at 14 and has projecting radially therefrom a series of relatively short stubby'spokes each defined by a side wall 15, a front Wall `16 and a transverse endwalld'l. Y. Rim clamping bolts 23 are inserted through holes 22 formed in the front wall 16,of the spokes,

and are loosely retained in assembled relation with the'spokes by means such as cotterkeys 24.

In assembling, the felly wall 10 and/or the eters, such as` by a machining operation, as to f provide a pressed fit betwen'these parts, and yto insure against separation suitable fastening members such as the rivets 26 are used to bind the erably headed or peened over as at 3 3 to insure againstsepamnon of the pms. A b aking piste 34 is also shown having a ang e 35 which is Vtelescoped overv a radial-flangeii of thebrake drum 2 9.

The hub-8 is formedwith a bore 37 adaptedto receive the outer end of axleshaft `38, the end ,f the. latter Shaft binslfplmed with. a key-Way 39 and the wall of the hub being formed with a meting key-way :1,0 ,wV receive a, key, 41 `for, splining the axle to the hubbarrel. The threaded portion43 kof the aXl e shaft has applied thereon Va nut 42V'for`preventing the wheelfrom becorningdisplaced laterallywitharespecttg the said` .i'gs, 1 andl 2.` spoked spider member 49 is formedfwith a 4body wall 53, note particularly FS- 5! Whih. haas Projtmga'ardalll .ttbe'eflom a v series4 of` relativelyV short stubby spokes each defined by a side wal1l5`4, afrontwall 55'and an end wall `56. E' Il-he inner side of the body wall 53 yis, formed witha flange -5'7 which serves V,to reinforce thespokesqand spider body ,asa whole and also serves asa means for attaehing the brake drum, which lmay 'similari to that shown` in Figs. 1 `and 2, said flange beingformedw-,th ,a series ot' holes 258 to accommodate attachment of the drum, The outboardside vof the wa.ll 53 is formedlwith a radially inwardly projecting :flange 59 -for attachmentof ahub ornavecovering -shell which may also 'be similar to f fnave member lfor securingthe parts The method of assembling the nave member and the outer spoked spider member may be subsmntiany simnar to that heretofore described in l of such wall is not present. The flange 57, however, functions to reinforce the body wall of thev spider member in thisinstance.

An. axle shaft .61 is shown in splined engage- 'ientfwitlithe hub 50, a key 62 being inserted in key-ways 63 and 64 formed in Vthe hub barrel and shaft.`V` r From the foregoing it willbe seen that we have vprovided an improved type of all-metal wheel having features which facilitate production thereof :andat they same time increase .its strength and materially reduces its weight;A Suchwheels,

while being particularly' adapted' for Aheavy duty service, `may alsobe made sufficientlyilight for use with passenger vehicles,y It-willbe under-V stoodfthat certain minor changes -in `structure and design may beradopted withinthe scope 'of the invention -asdefined bythe appendedclaims. Weclaim: ,Y 1. an artillery type metal vwheel for vmotor vehicles comprising a -nave member which lis Of open spider-like construction'for the greaterarea o f the wheel diameter to permit'the use of a spider member having a minimum amount of metal therein and relativelyshort spokes, said.

seriesV of relatively short hollow lradial, proiec.``

tions defining the spokes of the wheel, and means extending radially7 through t-h'e base wallofeach rspoke and thej spider-supporting jm'e'ans4 of said in perma nentlsr,assembled,relationsl f.;-

-2. An `artillery type metal Vwheel `for vehicles compi-"isingk .a. ;nave .memberwgwhich `is of open spider-like lconstruction for the greater larea of the wheel diameter tonpermit the use of ,a spider member having a minimum amount of metaivv therein andfrelatively fshort spokes, 'said nave member comprising ya hubjbarrel and a series of radiallyextended ribs terminatingina transversely extended peripheral wall,l the `nave member in its entirety beingfformed of relatively hard forged 4or, cast metal in order to permit the hub barrel to be keyed-to an axleandetogether with the skeleton nave structure withstand-torque -and lateral thrust stresses, and a. spider member` of f relatively 'soft malleable metal as compared with the nave member, said spider-member'fbeing Vformed with annular body wall havingy a. central opening kof such. diameter as will 7provide a pressediit on the peripheral wall of the .nave member, said body wall being projected radially in arched formation in the form'o'f relatively short hollow spokes, and-means extending n Y ally through the body Awall `of the spider member at the base of each spoke and the peripheral wall of vsaid nave member for securing the parts in permanently assembled relation.

3. An artillery type metal Wheel for motor vehicles comprising a nave member which is of open spider like construction for the greater area as compared with the nave member, said spider member being formed with an annular body wall having a central opening of a4 diameter suchas will adapt it to have a pressed t on the felly of said nave member, the one `side of said body wall being formed with a radially inwardly projecting stop flange to insure against lateral displacement of the parts, said bodyr Wall being formed with a series of relatively short radial hollowvprojections defining the spokes.` of the wheel, and means extending radially lthrough the body wall of the spider member at the basev of each spoke and the felly of said nave member for locking the parts in permanently assembled relation.

4. An artillery type metal wheel for motor vehicles comprising a nave member which is of open spider like construction for the greater area of the wheel diameter to permit the use of a spider member having va minimum amount of metal therein and relatively short spokes, said nave member being formed in its entirety of yrelatively hard forged or cast metal in order to permit the hub of the nave to be keyed to an axle and together with the central nave body effectively withstand torque and lateral thrust stresses, the periphery of the nave member being formed with a spider-supporting felly and a spider member of relatively soft malleable metal as compared with the nave member,` said spider member being formed with an annular' body wall having a central opening of a diameter such as will adapt it to have a pressed i'lt on f the felly of said nave member, the one side of said body wall being formed with a radially in'- wardly projecting stop flange to insure against lateral displacement of the parts, said body wall being formed with a series of relatively short radial hollow projections definingy the spokes of the Wheel, means extending radially through the, body Wall of the spider member at the base of 4each spoke and said felly for locking the parts in permanently assembled relation, and a navecovering shell detachably secured to said stop' ilange.

y 5.' A two part artillery type metal wheel assembly for motor vehicles comprising a nave member of open spider like construction formed with a hub barrel and a series of ribs which project radially therefrom for the greater area of the wheel diameter and terminate in T-shaped head segments, said nave member being formed in its entirety of relatively 4hard forged or cast `metal in order to permit the hub barrel to be keyed to an axle and together with the central nave body effectively withstand torque and lateral thrust stresses, and a spider member ofrrelatively soft malleable metal as compared lwith the nave member, said spider member being wall to snugly engage over the T-shaped head segments of the nave member, said body Wall being projected radially in the form of relatively short hollow spokes, a series of rivets or analogous locking members extended radially f' 40 base of each `spoke and through the said head v,

through the wall of the spider member at the `formed with an annular body wall having a cene l tralopening of a diameter such as will permit the' l 

